Bali holiday advise & guide

Before you visit Bali there are a number of questions you may have. To assist in both planning your holiday prior to departure and when you arrive on the island we have compiled the following information which answers the most common questions we recieive from our guests.

Banking & Money ExchangeATM’s are available in all populated areas of Bali. In some outer areas of Bali ATM’s are much less available so it is recommended to carry cash when venturing out of central tourist areas. ATM maximum withdrawal limits in Bali can range between 1.000.000 – 3.000.000 IDR (Approx. $100 – $300 AUD) and ATM’s will carry an international withdrawal fee which may range between 100.000 – 200.000 IDR (Approx. $10 - $20 AUD).

Credit Cards are usually only accepted at any of the large hotels, shopping centres or some shops within main areas of Bali. Numerous money exchangers exist within Bali and rates often fluctuate. It is recommended to exchange money inside a specialist money exchanger building, clarify the exchange rate, use your phone to calculate the rate and check the money at the counter before leaving. While smaller money changers are found on street corners or alley ways rates are often embellished and “sleight of hand” is common to occur. Money exchange rates at the airport are also much less than you will find at licenced money exchangers within specialist buildings.

CurrencyThe currency in Indonesia is Indonesian Rupiah. The money code is IDR and the symbol is Rp. Indonesian currency has both coins and notes as shown in the pictures on the right hand side.

CustomsThere are customs restrictions for both import and export of goods to Indonesia. Your home country will also have customs restrictions and these should be checked with the responsible government agency. Indonesian customs import restrictions are as follows, restrictions are per person: ♦ 1 Litre of Alcohol ♦ 50 Cigars, 200 Cigarettes or 100g Tobacco♦ Rp. 100.000.000 (Approx. $10’000 AUD)♦ No Pornography♦ No Drugs or Illicit Substance

♦ No Dangerous Weapons ♦ No Fruits or Vegetables♦ No Plants or Various Plant Matter♦ Some herbal medicine will not be allowed

Cultural EtiquetteAs Bali is a central tourist area most things within sensible grounds are acceptable this is also partially due to Bali being predominantly Hindu in comparison to other Muslim dominated areas. Several rules of etiquette still do apply though in this liberal area of Indonesia as follows:

♦ Within temples a sarong must be worn and menstruating women may not enter♦ It is considered offensive to offer someone your left hand or touch someone on the head♦ Shoes should be taken off before entering a home♦ Showing excessive displays of public affection is frowned upon♦ Touching someone with your feet or show your feet while sitting are considered unclean and disrespectful♦ Always take care to avoid stepping on offerings on walkways and roads

Drinking WaterOnly drink bottled water. Do not drink water from faucets or taps. Ice is usually safe from restaurants however it does pay to take care in remote areas. Ice with a hole in the centre is always manufactured from fresh water while solid ice cubes may be home made and pose a greater risk.

ElectricityElectric power supply is 220 volts in all regions. So be careful with your 110-volt electronic equipment. The sockets will only fit with two pins rounded-tip plugs (technically known as Type C, E, and F) or use adaptors.

Visa On Arrival & Departure Tax RequirementsVisitors may be granted a 30 day Visa On Arrival (VOA) for a fee of $25.00 USD. This VISA may be extended for an additional 30 days without leaving the country by paying an additional fee of Rp 250.000 and providing additional documentation. If you plan to be in Indonesia for more than 90 days, you must register with the local immigration office and hold the correct visa

If you are staying in private residence (not a hotel), you are required to register with the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) Office and the local police when you arrive.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return. You should also carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need a replacement passport while overseas.

All persons departing Indonesia are required to pay Rp. 150.000 IDR Departure Tax at the point of departure.

InternetWireless internet is available from many hotels, villas, cafes and other locations in Bali. Internet access can have intermittent signal dropouts so patience may be required.

If you require internet service where there is none available USB modems and simcards can be purchased in most major shopping centres.

LawsThe following are only a select few of the laws applying to travellers. Laws in Indonesia are subjectively enforced by individual police and bribery is often associated with some elements of the law.

♦ You must carry identification at all times. Keep a photocopy of your passport. Not Strictly Enforced♦ Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty. Very Strictly Enforced♦ Serious crimes such as murder, drug smuggling and piracy may attract death penalty. Strictly Enforced♦ Gambling is illegal although underground gambling rings do still operate. Enforced♦ Driving in Indonesia without an International Driving Licence is illegal. International licenses are usually obtained cheaply within your home country. The bribe to police will usually cost more than the licence. Your insurance company is also likely to not pay a claim if you are injured breaking the law or not wearing a compliant helmet! Strictly Enforced

LanguageThe official language of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesian however in Bali people are often bilingual or trilingual additionally speaking Bahasa Balinese and often English.

Medical Care & HealthIt is always recommended to obtain travel insurance prior to holidaying in Indonesia. Ensure you understand the specific cover included in the policy as many policies offer wide differences in insurance cover. If you need medical attention contact the insurance company as soon as possible. There are 5 hospitals and 2 medical clinics most often used by foreigners in Bali:

Using your mobile phone in another country can attract significant costs for global roaming call and data usage. An alternative and much cheaper option is to obtain an Indonesian sim card and use this in an unlocked mobile phone. Many shops sell sim cards which should only cost Rp. 5.000 – 10.000 IDR (.50c -$1.00 AUD) you may be charged 50.000 IDR ($5.00 AUD) though as a holiday maker. Get the seller at the store to register the sim card for you on purchase.

To place credit on the phone it is a prepaid system where you may add 10.000, 20.000, 25.000, 50.000 etc. to your phone by giving the seller the mobile number. Wait until you receive a SMS message that confirms the credit on the phone before leaving the shop.

Seasons Bali is just 80 degrees south of the equator and therefore has a tropical climate with 2 seasons a year and an average temperature of around 27 degrees Celsius.

Wet season is generally from November to March and the Dry season is from April to October. It can however rain at any time of the year though often passing quickly. Even in Wet season there are usually large periods particularly mornings where there is no rainfall.

TippingTipping is customary within Indonesia although some places will add the tip into the bill already. This can be seen on some invoices or pricelists listed as a service charge. In circumstances where the service fee is already added to your bill a tip is not required but always greatly appreciated by staff.

Where there is no service charge already added you should tip based upon your satisfaction with the service you receive and the value of the tip to the person you will give it. Often in Indonesia wages are low and the staff rely on their tips to provide a better quality of life while basic essentials are covered with their wage.

As an approximate figure 5 – 10 % is the correct value to tip however if you were extremely impressed or reversely extremely unimpressed then pay or do not pay what you feel is deserved.TransportThere are many forms of transport available in Bali each which will suit individual people based upon their needs. Please ensure if you plan to ride or drive a vehicle requiring a licence you have the appropriate international driver’s licence, wear helmets to correct standards to avoid breaching your travel insurance policy and follow the road rules; yes even though it may not seem so Bali does have road rules!

Hire Scooter – Scooters or motorbikes may be hired from many people all over Bali. Prices will vary depending on how long you rent for. For 1 day expect to pay Rp. 65'000 and for 1 week Rp. 50'000 per day.

Car Hire– Self Drive Car Hire is another option in Bali though ensure you are comfortable driving on the streets of Bali first. Depending on the car you wish to hire you will be looking at Rp. 200'000 –330'000 per day from a small to large sized car.

Car & Driver Hire – Having a car and driver can be a great way to see Bali. Your personal driver will be experienced with Bali destinations allowing you to visit far away locations and have day trips or simply be at your call to go anywhere local. Prices per day for 10 hours driving will cost Rp. 500'000 within local areas and for a tour Rp. 600'000.

Taxis – The best taxi service company within Bali is “Blue Bird”. These are the light blue cabs with the bird symbol. These taxi drivers have a very strict policy of always using the meter and drivers are usually made to prove their knowledge of the roads within Bali before being hired.

There are other taxis designed to look the same as Blue Bird group. If you use one of these taxis or another company always ensure the meter is on before you start your trip and don’t fall for the line that it does not work!

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